<h3 class="theme-panel-header text-2xl pb-6 theme-vacancy-section-title">About the role</h3><p>The Fabric Manager will lead the development and sourcing of fabrics that deliver the required quality, performance, sustainability, and cost objectives. Working in partnership with the Fabric Technical Manager, Buying, Design, Technical, and Supply Chain teams, the role is responsible for driving an efficient end-to-end fabric development process, ensuring the right fabrics are developed and delivered to meet customer expectations, business objectives, and critical path requirements.</p><p><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p><ul><li>Lead the strategic development and management of fabrics and yarns, ensuring they meet Matalan's quality, performance, sustainability, and commercial objectives.</li><li>Drive fabric innovation by identifying new materials, technologies, and industry trends, ensuring Matalan remains competitive and delivers value-led products to customers.</li><li>Own and continuously improve the core fabric and yarn standards, monitoring performance through reporting and data analysis to support informed decision-making.</li><li>Manage and develop the core fabric library, promoting fabric standardisation, consolidation, and reuse to improve consistency, efficiency, and cost optimisation across product categories.</li><li>Act as the technical fabric expert, providing specialist guidance and training to Buying, Design, Sourcing, Technical, and supplier teams to support product development and enhance fabric knowledge across the business.</li><li>Collaborate with Buying, Design and key stakeholders to drive consistent quality across all fabrics and yarns, including nominated sources in the supply base</li><li>Lead fabric sustainability initiatives by embedding responsible material choices and supporting the delivery of Matalan's environmental and ethical sourcing targets.</li><li>Identify opportunities to rationalise fabric routes and reduce duplication of similar fabric qualities, driving efficiencies within the supply base while maintaining product performance and customer expectations.</li><li>Represent Matalan at key fabric exhibitions, supplier events, and industry forums to source innovation, build strategic supplier relationships, and identify future opportunities.</li><li>Lead product and fabric deep-dive initiatives, using customer insight, product performance, and technical data to drive continuous improvement and enhance product quality.</li><li>Collaborate with Buying, Design, Sourcing, and supplier partners to resolve fabric-related production issues, ensuring robust root cause analysis and continuous improvement.</li><li>Identify, trial and embed new technologies (e.g.Digiview,&nbsp; PLM, 3D and other emerging tools) to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the fabric function and wider business where fabric/colour systems are required for decision making</li><li>Mentor junior members of the team to support their knowledge development in fabric and yarns</li><li>Drive the fabric related Key Line Process conversations to ensure that the price and quality of fabrics from nominated mills is competitive</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="absolute bottom-2 right-2"><button onclick="scrollToTop()" class="theme-primary p-2 rounded-lg flex"> <i translate="no" class="material-symbols-outlined"> arrow_upward </i> </button></div>